Comments on: Fracking to be independently monitored: Ministerhttp://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/2016/04/12/fracking-to-be-independently-monitored-minister/
The freedom of the press still furnishes that check upon government which no constitution has ever been able to provide - Chicago Tribune.Thu, 21 Mar 2019 09:12:28 +0000hourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.14By: R Henryhttp://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/2016/04/12/fracking-to-be-independently-monitored-minister/#comment-1682548
Tue, 19 Apr 2016 08:33:54 +0000http://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/?p=36513#comment-1682548I hope the lady knows more about what she is being paid for than she appears to know about previous early working relationships between the stations and the Aboriginals. Re her comments in the other local paper.
View Comment]]>By: Ross Chippendalehttp://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/2016/04/12/fracking-to-be-independently-monitored-minister/#comment-1681951
Tue, 12 Apr 2016 21:38:14 +0000http://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/?p=36513#comment-1681951Dear Mr Giles,
Fracking AND a nuclear waste dump? Guess who’s leaving the NT and possibly Australia after he loses Office, whenever that may be?
Why would something as “safe” as fracking require monitoring by anyone at all Mr Giles?
You only monitor things if they may go bad and destroy things you haven’t even thought of yet.
Could I suggest you book an ABBA tribute band to sing “Money, Money, Money” at your farewell extravaganza?
Really, Mr Giles, how stupid do you think Territorians are? Oh, sorry you’ve already given us that answer haven’t you?
View Comment]]>By: Jimmy Cockinghttp://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/2016/04/12/fracking-to-be-independently-monitored-minister/#comment-1681916
Tue, 12 Apr 2016 14:48:30 +0000http://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/?p=36513#comment-1681916What absolute rubbish?! The current raft of Petroleum Regulations actually make the situation worse. Increasing uncertainty in the definitions and providing loopholes the size of canyons is not creating a robust regulatory system.
Although both are nice enough people, Dr Hunter is not independent, nor is Dr Hawke in this instance. This whole approach has been flawed from the start.
The NT Government is giving the illusion of doing something when it is actually weakening the system of protecting our water and the environment. There is not any certainty for industry either as these hopelessly flawed regulations will be thrown out by any responsible Minister and then the process will start again.
The NT EPA needs to be empowered to provide advice to the Environment Minister to approve projects that may have detrimental impacts on the environment, not the Mines and Energy Minister whose job it is to promote the industry.
The “improved” regulatory system under the CLP will have the Mines and Energy Minister promote, assess, approve and enforce compliance of fracking, mining etc and the Environment Minister comes in when there is not a “responsible” Minister, e.g. ports that aren’t ports like Port Melville and any other project that doesn’t quite fit the bill.
The CLP’s attempt to “improve the system” is a farce.
I wish I could be talking it up and telling everyone how good it is to have a government committed to improving the environmental assessment and approvals system but unfortunately I can’t.
The system is broken and needs a complete overhaul. Tinkering on the regulations will not do the job. Giving certainty to Territorians that the gas industry will not impact drinking water is what we need – these petroleum regulations are not going to do that, nor will unenforceable guidelines.
If you’re looking for legacy, Dave, these regs aren’t it. Handing over your approval powers to the Environment Minister and compliance enforcement to the NT EPA, well that would be a real step forward.
View Comment]]>By: Marli Bankshttp://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/2016/04/12/fracking-to-be-independently-monitored-minister/#comment-1681843
Tue, 12 Apr 2016 02:23:47 +0000http://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/?p=36513#comment-1681843Gas leaks. There is no way this industry can be rolled out safely across the Northern Territory as is being proposed.
People want long term solutions for cleaner power solutions; it is time for defending the environment and people rather than big industry with a dirty history.
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